Lace-fastener.



PATENTBDIYNOV. s, 1903.,

L. H. HYER.

LACE FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 190k). RENEWED JAN. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Rms PETERS co PHomuTHu. WASHINGTON o c UNITED STATES Patented November3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

LINCOLN H. HYER, OF WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN W. BAKER ANDNELLIE SNOW HYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LACE-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,992, dated November3, 1903. Application filed September 13, 1900. Renewed January 9, 1903.Serial No. 138,446. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, LINCOLN H. HYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Warrensburg, Johnson county, Missouri, have invented a newand useful Lace-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe-lace fasteners; and myobject is to provide a device of this character which is simple andinexpensive in construction, neat in appearance, and thoroughly reliablefor the purpose intended.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will nowbe made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents theupper front portion of ashoe provided with my attachment. Fig. 2 is anenlarged perspective view of the fastener detached. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional View of the fastener, showing the cam and clampin an elevated position preparatory to receiving the shoe-lace. Fig. 4is a longitudinal section of the fastener, showing it clamped on ashoe-lace.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a spring-clamp stamped from a single pieceof sheet metal and bent into V-shaped form, the under side of which isprovided with integral prongs 2 for securing the device to the shoe andoppositely-disposed integral lugs 3, which extend upwardly a suitabledistance above the upper jaw of the clamp. The upper edges of said lugsare convexed, so that they will present no abrupt angles on which thewearing-apparel may catch, while their under edges extend obliquelyupward from the lower jaw of the clamp and form acute angles 3 at theirpoint of junction therewith for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The upper portions of lugs 3 are provided with apertures 4 to receivethe trunnions of a cam-lever 5, operated by an integral handle 6, havinga ,cam portion 7 at its pivoted end adapted to force the upper jaw downinto contact with the lower one when the handle is made to assume theposition shown in Fig. 4. The outer terminal of the handle 6 is curveddownwardly, so that when it occupies its operative position it willpresent a smooth surface to the apparel and also prevent the accidentaldisplacement of the shoe-lace 8 from between the terminals of the jawsof the clamp.

When the shoe has been laced after the style shown in Fig.1, theopposite ends of the lace are drawn up tightly through the acute angles3 formed into loops 9, and then drawn down between the jaws of theclamps, which are tightly pressed upon the lace by throwing thecam-levers to their operative positions. The ends of the lace are thenreliably held in position until released by throwing the cam-levers totheir opposite positions. By drawing the ends of the lace through theacute angles 3 they become wedged therein, and thus materially relievethe clamps of any undue strain which might be brought to bear upon themif their frictional contact alone was depended upon to retain the lacein position. This construction also admits of the parts being smallerand lighter than if friction was entirely relied on to hold the-lace,because then the clamp and cam-lever would necessarily have to be muchheavier and more powerful to prevent the lace from sliping.

While I have described the attachment as being applied to a shoe, I ofcourse reserve the right to place it on leggings, boots, gloves, or, infact, wherever the service of a reliable lace-fastener may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a lace-fastener, the combination with upper and lower jawsconnected at one end by a spring throwing them normally apart, and lugsrising from the edges of the lower jaw past the edges of the upper jaw,the edges of the lugs adjacent the open end of the device forming anacute angle with the lower jaw for the purpose set forth; of a cam-leverhaving trunnions journaled in apertures in said lugs and a right-angularportion adapted to force the upper jaw downward, the lever portion ofthis member being so formed as to close the open end of the device whensaid right-angular portion depresses the uppermost jaw.

2. In a lace-fastening, cooperating jaws, one of which is rigidly fixedto the shoe and the other of which is movable and held normally awayfrom the same, pintle-bearings integral with said fixed jaw, acam-shaped tongue pivotally mounted therein, and adaptedto bear on saidmovable jaw, and having its free end bent to form a closure for theopening between said jaws; substantially as described.

3. In a lace-fastener, the combination with upper and lower jawsconnected at one end by a spring which normally holds them apart, oflugs rising from thelowerjaw and extending upwardly and outwardly towardthe open space between said jaws and above the upper jaw, whereby thelace to be clamped is positioned under the overhanging lugs, and acam-lever journaled in the overhanging ends of the lugs and bearing uponthe upper jaw immediately above the lace; substantially as described.

4. In a lace-fastener, the combination with upper and lower jaws, one ofwhich is yielding and normally held away from the other, of lugsextending from one of said jaws, and a cam-lever journaled in said lugs,the handle portion of said lever closing the open space between the jawswhen the device is in an operative position; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

LINCOLN H. HYER.

Witnesses:

H. C. RODGERS, G. Y. THORPE.

